Rest For Your Soul

The news of a cancer diagnosis is difficult for patients and their caregivers, so it helps to find ways to cope with the added stress.

Meditation, guided imagery, music, prayer and various other relaxation techniques can help calm your mind and sharpen your ability to focus. In addition, meditative practice is used to reduce pain, anxiety, high blood pressure and insomnia. While meditation is not a treatment for cancer, it is an effective, complimentary therapy used to improve quality of life for people suffering from treatment side effects.

As a natural stress reducer, meditation is a great way to maintain your mental health and wellbeing during a challenging time.

How it Works

Meditation may be done by choosing a quiet place free from distraction, sitting or resting quietly with your eyes closed, noticing your breathing and physical sensations, and letting go of all intruding thoughts. You may also achieve a relaxed yet alert state by focusing on a pleasant idea or thought, or by chanting a phrase or special sound silently or aloud. The ultimate goal of meditation is to separate yourself mentally from the outside world by suspending the usual stream of consciousness. Consistent practice is the best way to see results.

Learn More

If you would like to try meditation, the Pastoral Care Department at Roswell Park, in collaboration with Chaplain Reninger Flores, offers weekly meditative practice for cancer patients and their loved ones. Rest For Your Soul enables participants to engage in relaxation techniques enriched by music to elevate the mind and spirit. You will focus on mindful reflection with the goal of finding inner peace.